Stafford solidifies status as franchise QB

NFL Notebook

The Detroit Lions quarterback then took off his jersey and displayed a sense of humor.

"Look at that," the former Georgia star joked.

He will have to do more than raise his dislocated left shoulder and throwing arm to get clearance for the Thanksgiving Day game against the Green Bay Packers.

"It's unlikely that he's going to play, but we'll see," Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. "It's a deal if it gets better in a couple of days and it's not as painful, he'll be able to get out there."

The No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, the guy who set an NFL record on Sunday in a thrilling 38-37 win over Cleveland, had to sit and watch his teammates go through their only full practice of the week on Tuesday. So did standout receiver Calvin Johnson, who has hand and knee injuries.

Even if Stafford isn't on the field, he has given long-suffering fans a reason to have hope the future will be better. Previous first-round picks Joey Harrington, Andre Ware and Chuck Long failed to deliver for a franchise that has one Pro Bowl QB - and one playoff victory - since winning the 1957 NFL title.

The 21-year-old Stafford set an NFL rookie passing record with 422 yards passing against the Browns on Sunday and became the youngest to throw five TDs in a game.

The fifth TD came with no time on the clock, after Stafford went to the sideline and was flat on his back getting his shoulder evaluated. He came back out for the game-winning throw with his right arm after his left shoulder was slammed to the turf on the previous play.

That Stafford went back on the field won praise from teammates and opponents while generating a positive buzz the Lions haven't had since they were 6-2 in the 2007 season.

Stafford's feats earned him NFC offensive player of the week honors.

"If this franchise is ever going to turn the corner, the list of quarterbacks it has gone through has to stop with him," said center Dominic Raiola, who has endured a 33-105 record since Detroit drafted him in 2001.

"I think he took the big step last game, getting a signature win after being down by 21 and throwing an interception late in the game and running a 2-minute drill without any timeouts."

Stafford led the Lions' biggest comeback in a game since 1957 when Bobby Layne helped them rally from a 24-point deficit against the Colts.

The Falcons brought Steve Hauschka, Sam Swant and Shane Andrus and former Georgia standout Brandon Coutu to their practice facility for tryouts on Tuesday.

Hauschka, Swant and Andrus have NFL experience. Coutu was drafted by Seattle in 2008, but did not make the team.

The 39-year-old Elam has made only 10 of 16 field goals this season and ranks 30th in the league with his 62.5 percent success rate.

Of most concern, Elam has made only three of seven attempts from 30 to 39 yards, including a missed 35-yarder in Sunday's overtime loss to the New York Giants. He made 29 of 31 attempts overall in 2008.

Tampa Bay demotes defensive coordinator

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa Bay's Raheem Morris is taking it upon himself to fix one of the NFL's worst defenses.

The first-year coach added defensive playcalling to his duties Tuesday, demoting veteran defensive coordinator Jim Bates after a 38-7 loss to unbeaten NFC South rival New Orleans dropped the Bucs to 1-9.